Teals turn to lawyers over Vic vote cards

Two teal independents running in Melbourne's eastern suburbs have engaged lawyers after the Victorian Electoral Commission rejected their how-to-vote cards. 

Independent candidate for Kew Sophie Torney and Hawthorn hopeful Melissa Lowe intend challenging the decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Their campaign material includes a message to 'vote 1' for themselves and then an instruction to number all other candidates. 

The issue, according to the VEC, lies with the cards showing an image of a ballot which includes blank boxes next to other people's names. 

It said the material must not include visuals of blank boxes, ticks or crosses next to candidate names over fears it could influence a voter to submit an informal ballot. 

A VEC spokesperson said it had a duty to refuse cards it is satisfied may be likely to "mislead or deceive a voter" under Victoria's Electoral Act.

Ms Torney said the decision will cost her votes and rules for the poll contrast with those for the federal election, when Kooyong Independent and now MP Dr Monique Ryan included blank boxes on her cards. 

Ms Lowe said Victoria's electoral laws were "stacked against independents" in favour of major party incumbents.

Meanwhile, the coalition has defended its gas reservation plan despite experts raising concerns about its feasibility.

On Tuesday, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and energy spokesman David Southwick again spruiked their election promise to quarantine all new gas discovered in Victoria for state-only use.

Holding the 2020 Victorian Gas Program report, Mr Southwick dismissed Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio's suggestion the policy would lead to fracking as there are no known quantities of conventional onshore gas in Victoria.

"This is a minister that is clearly not across her brief," he told reporters at a Warragul tomato farm.

"In this report, it actually says there is 800 petajoules of gas available."

But the program's website - last updated in June this year - states "there are currently no proven and probable (ready for imminent development) onshore conventional gas reserves in Victoria".

"I just don't accept that at all," Mr Southwick said.

Monash Energy Institute Director Professor Ariel Liebman has questioned how the coalition plans to implement the plan given Victoria is part of a national energy market.

"It's just not practical," he told AAP.

"Physically you could do it but to implement it you'd probably have to put in a whole bunch of micro-regulations around specific locations and specific companies."

Professor Liebman added it could take five to 10 years for price benefits from the plan to flow to consumers, even if the rollout went smoothly.

It comes after Labor promised women across Victoria access to new, specialist health clinics if re-elected on November 26.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced $71 million for 20 comprehensive clinics where patients can access treatment and advice.

"For too long, too many women haven't been listened to and their health issues have been ignored," he said in Geelong.

In September, a survey by non-profit organisation Jean Hailes for Women's Health found most migrant and Indigenous women across the country could not afford to see a doctor.

Each women's health clinic would provide assistance for a wide range of concerns including period pain, fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic pain, polycystic ovary syndrome and menopause.

An estimated 200,000 women in Victoria suffer from endometriosis and about 85 per cent of women will experience symptoms related to menopause.

It's estimated the clinics would help up to 35,000 patients a year.